Professor Ermias Kebreab to lead CA&ES global engagement and the World Food Center
Department of Animal Science Professor Ermias Kebreab has been appointed to the new position of Associate Dean of Global Engagement and Director of the World Food Center, effective January 15, 2019.
“Dr. Kebreab’s significant international experience, engagement and vision make him uniquely suited to support the mission and goals of both the college and the World Food Center,” said Dean Helene Dillard with the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “Dr. Kebreab will oversee the advancement of our college’s international goals while collaborating with our extensive internal and external partnerships through the World Food Center to address grand challenges facing our global food supply.”
This new position replaces the Associate Dean for International Programs, a position held previously by emeritus faculty Jan Hopmans and Jim Hill. Kebreab is stepping down from his current position as the Associate Vice Provost of Academic Programs for Global Affairs.
Kebreab has established himself as a distinguished scholar and skilled administrator with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture and animal science. Since he started in Global Affairs in 2016, he has collaborated across campus to welcome hundreds of international delegations and visitors to UC Davis and facilitated 50 new agreements and partnerships with leading institutions.
He also has served as a deputy director for the college’s Agricultural Sustainability Institute and is the Sesnon Endowed Chair in the Department of Animal Science. His innovative research includes work on using feed additives to reduce methane emissions from livestock.
Kebreab is chair of the United Nations FAO Technical Working Group on Feed Additives, is a committee member for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Panel on Anthropogenic Methane Emissions in the United States and also serves on the NAS Committee for Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. In addition, he is an active member of the USDA National Animal Nutrition Program and is a founding member of Dairy 2050, a think tank in scientific leadership working toward sustainability of the U.S. dairy industry in the global market.
Dillard also expressed her gratitude to Kent Bradford, distinguished professor of plant sciences and director of the Seed Biotechnology Center, who served as interim director of the World Food Center while the college conducted the search for a new associate dean and center director.
“Professor Bradford has been instrumental in successfully navigating the World Food Center through a transitional period,” she said. “He has graciously agreed to continue supporting this next phase of the World Food Center by staying on as associate director through June.”